Written question asked by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party) on Thursday, 16 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 June 2002. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Monday, 10 June 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how far limitations on the use of C17s have been compensated for by the lease of heavy lift civilian aircraft; and what the costs have been for operations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) the Balkans. - Including figure.

Answer: Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how far limitations on the use of C17s have been compensated for by the lease of heavy lift civilian aircraft; and what the costs have been for operations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) the Balkans. [58080] Mr. Ingram: The sheer size of the operational deployment in Afghanistan, the lack of viable surface lines of communication into a land-locked country together with a very significant sustainment package has required the use of both the heavy lift Antonov and IL-76 civilian aircraft in parallel with the C-17, so that military and political timelines could be achieved. The cost of heavy lift civilian aircraft for operations into Afghanistan chartered by the Ministry of Defence up to 31 May 2002 is £35 million. No such aircraft have been chartered for operations in the Balkans.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 58080; 386 c736W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Costs Deployment Leasing Military aircraft Transport Balkans Afghanistan C-17 aircraft
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk